Topsail August 9, 2012
Ernie James, Jr., Jerome Cox, David Elston, and Vic Sholar with an 80.5 lb. wahoo that bit a naked ballyhoo behind a planer 35 miles off New River Inlet while they were trolling on the "Can't Get Enough."
Doug, of East Coast Sports, reports that there have been big numbers of spanish mackerel (and some big fish) feeding within a few miles of the Topsail Beaches lately. Anglers are fooling the big spaniards on Clarkspoons (larger than normal models best), Yo-Zuri Deep Divers, dead cigar minnows, and live baits while trolling around schools of menhaden and surface activity.
Some small king mackerel and dolphin are showing up at spots 12-20 miles off the inlets, and dead cigar minnows or ballyhoo, as well as live baits, will tempt them to bite.
Larger kings and more dolphin are feeding out in the 30 mile range where the same baits will fool them.
Bottom fishermen have reported grouper action as close as 3-5 miles off the beaches recently, with plenty of black sea bass mixed in. The fish are feeding at structure from there out to the 25 mile range. Cigar minnows, sardines, squid, and cut or live baits are all good choices for the grouper, bass, and other bottom feeders.
Surf casters have found solid sea mullet and pompano fishing along the length of Topsail Island over the past week. Sand fleas and shrimp are fooling both fish.
Some red drum are feeding around the south end of the island, where they’ll bite finger mullet, cut baits, and occasionally gold spoons.
The red drum bite is solid inshore as well, where anglers are finding them on the flats and in the creeks. Topwater plugs, Gulps and other soft plastics, and live baits will attract attention from the reds inshore.
Flounder fishing has also been a good option lately, with anglers reporting good catches from the inlets and around docks, bridges, and other inshore structure. The flatfish have a tough time resisting Carolina-rigged live baits or Gulps on jigheads and bucktails.
A few speckled trout are feeding around the Surf City Bridge and nearby spots, but the trout bite has been better up the New River lately. Live baits, soft plastics, and suspending hard lures like X-Raps are all effective on the specks.
The sheepshead bite is going strong around bridges and docks inshore, with the 172 Bridge at Sneads Ferry particularly good recently. Most anglers are fooling the sheeps with fiddler crabs.
Allen, of Breadman Ventures, reports that the red drum bite remains solid on the flats and in the marsh creeks off the New River and ICW near Sneads Ferry. Topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastics are fooling the reds.
Plenty of flounder are in the area (several 10+ lb. fish have been gigged lately) but the bite has been up-and-down lately, with the fish seeming to key in on certain parts of the tide. Live baits or soft plastics on Protoype jigheads and bucktails are tempting the bites from the flatfish.
Large ladyfish are feeding in the area. They will bite topwater plugs that anglers are casting for redfish or they’ll attack a variety of baits and lures around lighted structure at night.
Sheepshead are feeding around bridge and dock pilings in the area, and live fiddler crabs are tough for them to turn down.
Bob McCarter, of Oak Island, with a wahoo that bit a ballyhoo beneath a blue/black Ilander near the Steeples while he was fishing on the "Sarah's Worry."
Bill, of Fish On Charters, reports that anglers are hooking plenty of spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons off New River Inlet right now.
Black sea bass are feeding at structure not far off the inlet, and they’ll bite bottom rigs baited with squid or cut baits.
Further offshore, there’s been solid king mackerel and dolphin fishing 20+ miles out for anglers trolling cigar minnows and ballyhoo.
Richard, of Seaview Pier, reports that anglers have hooked some false albacore recently while working metal jigs from the pier.
A few sea mullet and spanish mackerel have also come over the rails recently.
Bob, of Surf City Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet and a few spot in the evening hours. Shrimp and bloodworms on bottom rigs are tempting both to bite.
Some black drum have been mixed in day and night.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pier’s pilings, where anglers are hooking them on barnacles and sand fleas.
Anglers fishing small live baits on the bottom are connecting with some flounder.
A few spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and diamond jigs in the early morning hours.
Robin, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that anglers saw a solid run of black drum last weekend (most 2-4 lbs.) with sand fleas and shrimp producing most of the action.
Some sheepshead have been hooked on sand fleas and barnacles recently.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some spot, sea mullet, and croaker late at night on bloodworms and shrimp.
The spanish mackerel action has been hit-or-miss, but anglers caught decent numbers on Gotcha plugs, diamond jigs, and gold hook rigs last week.
Live-baiters are still seeing tarpon off the end of the pier.
